Etymograph

English

Hercules

Hercules comes from Ancient Greek Ἡρακλῆς, from Ἥρᾱ ‘Hera’, and ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *ḱlew- ‘to hear’.

  1. Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*ḱlew-‘to hear’root as named
  2. Ancient Greekc. 800–300 BCEἭρᾱ‘Hera’
  3. Ancient Greek, derivedc. 800–300 BCEἩρακλῆςHēraklês
  4. Etruscanmodern𐌇𐌄𐌓𐌂𐌋𐌄hercle
  5. Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEHerculēs
  6. Englishearliest quotation 1698Hercules

attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed

Lineage

  1. Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*ḱlew-‘to hear’root as named
  2. Ancient Greekc. 800–300 BCEἭρᾱ‘Hera’
  3. Ancient Greek, derivedc. 800–300 BCEἩρακλῆςHēraklês
  4. Etruscanmodern𐌇𐌄𐌓𐌂𐌋𐌄hercle
  5. Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEHerculēs
  6. Englishearliest quotation 1698Hercules

Earliest quotation: 1698, The Pantheon, Plain and Familiar Method by Way of Dialogue: “THere were many Hercules’s, but (as Tully ſays, de…”

Linked words

through Proto-Indo-European *ḱlew- ‘to hear’

listen, client, loud, scout, linn, shruti, lithe, leer, umlaut, 14 more

Today it means

name The Roman name for the Greek divine hero Heracles, who was the son of Jupiter and Alcmene, a celebrated hero who possessed exceptional strength. Most famous for his twelve labours performed to redeem himself after killing his family.

Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.

Etymograph / Proto-Indo-European *ḱlew- / Hercules

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